Reality of God

Real

OS: Years ago my grandfather, and his brother each married a daughter of the Davis family. The family farm next over. So, my Grandmother (Mammy), and Great Aunt (Aunt Allie Will) were sisters who lived out their lives across the yard from one another on the farm. Over the years they had developed their routines, and rarely did they waver. There were certain times of the day they would watch their ‘programs’ on TV. I can remember as a little boy sitting in that small room with the gas space heater going while Aunt Allie Will, Mammy, and Bird (Lillie Bell – cook), watched Days of our Lives, or General Hospital (I can’t remember the exact shows they watched together, and the ones they watched separately). The atmosphere was absolutely electric as they were glued on the daily drama. The noises they made were amusing: um, um, um – Lord, have Mercy – Oh me – Ole hussy – scoundrel – and a few other words would slip occasionally; all this combined with Bird’s continuous clicking of her false teethe. All the intensity was due to a belief that may seem unusual to you, and maybe surprising – they believed it was real. These were real people, living real lives, in real houses, and someone was just following them around with a camera. When the ‘reality’ TV craze came along I couldn’t help but think of those rainy days when I would be inside and get to sit in on the shows. I was especially amused the first time I saw an add like, “Writers Wanted for Reality TV Show”. 

I read of the disappointment someone had when they saw a special on the Discovery channel documenting how the old favorite “Gun Smoke” was filmed; Dodge City was really just a place in the middle of nowhere not even close to the real one. And there was no Long-Branch Saloon, no stores, or jail for Marshall Dillon – it was all front with nothing behind it. If you looked through a window all you would see is more prairie. Kittie, Doc Adams, Chester, Festus, and Marshall Dillon were sitting on a set somewhere, not the Long-Branch where you thought they were.

It makes you wonder how real anything is any more. Today instead of the word “façade” we prefer the term “image”. In fact, “images” are elected as our political leaders more so now than at any point in history.

There are many today that wonder if anything is real any more, or if it matters. So…

How real is God? Is the reality of God, and Christianity, proven by evidence, or simply a façade or image created with our imagination? Is our “faith” fueled by our imagination or by facts and evidence?

Christianity is the only world religion that is proven by evidence!

Hebrews 11:1, Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (NIV) Hebrews 11:1, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (KJV)

Unless we get a handle on this we will end up with a life that is like that Gun smoke façade – no depth of character, no real meaning, purpose, or significance.

PQ: What is the Evidence?

I.       Creation itself.

A.   Darwin’s Black Box – If Darwin were alive today he would throw his theory of evolution out he window.

                      1.       If faith is based on evidence then it really doesn’t take more faith to believe in the theory of evolution than God – because there is no evidence in all of the sciences of evolution – that is why it is a theory.

                      2.       I like Patrick Medes approach – a man with numerous phd’s and writer of medical text books. – Everything has to eat.

B.    I miss being able to walk out into the pasture on a warm spring or summer night and see the stars – Such great design demands a designer.

C.   But, if creation is not enough then what else?

II.    The Bible (but I don’t believe it? – “based on what evidence?” “Prove it wrong”)

A.   Basic facts about this book:

                      1.       1600 years – 40 different writers – 3 different languages – one message = one author.

                      2.       minute facts – the dimensions for the ark are of perfect balance for a boat to handle freight – how did he know?

                      3.       Eight day – circumcision – On the eight day of life our blood has the highest levels of a certain ingredient that promotes clotting. Today this ingredient is administered to new born males on day one for circumcision.

B.    The Da’Vinci Code had a lot of hype, but made many feel foolish after the fact of its fiction was revealed.

                      1.       “The Bible has many contradictions.” Really, - where?

C.   The Dead Sea Scrolls and Isaiah.

D.   But, if creation, and the validity of the Bible is not enough then what else?

III. Changed lives are evidence of the reality of God.

A.